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Icelandic girl wins right to use her given name

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Modified: January 31, 2013 at 7:55 am •
Published: January 31, 2013

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REYKJAVIK, Iceland (AP) — A 15-year-old Icelandic girl has been granted the right to legally use the name given to her by her mother, despite the opposition of authorities and Iceland's strict law on names.

FILE - In this Sunday, Dec. 30, 2012 photo from files Blaer Bjarkardottir, left, and her mother, Bjork Eidsdottir, are photographed in front of a pond in Reykjavik. The 15-year-old Icelandic girl has been granted the right to legally use the name given to her by her mother, despite the opposition of authorities. A court ruled Thursday that the name "Blaer" can be used. It means "gentle breeze." The decision overturns an earlier rejection by Icelandic authorities who declared it was not a proper feminine name. Until now, Blaer Bjarkardottir had been identified simply as "Girl" in communications with officials. (AP Photo/Anna Andersen, File)

Reykjavik District Court ruled Thursday that the name "Blaer" can be used. It means "light breeze."

The decision overturns an earlier rejection by Icelandic authorities who declared it was not a proper feminine name. Until now, Blaer Bjarkardottir had been identified simply as "Girl" in communications with officials.

"I'm very happy," she said after the ruling. "I'm glad this is over. Now I expect I'll have to get new identity papers. Finally I'll have the name Blaer in my passport."

Like a handful of other countries, including Germany and Denmark, Iceland has official rules about what a baby can be named. Names are supposed to fit Icelandic grammar and pronunciation rules — choices like Carolina and Christa are not allowed because the letter "c'' is not part of Iceland's alphabet.

Blaer's mother, Bjork Eidsdottir, had fought for the right for the name to be recognized. The court ruling means that other girls will be also allowed to use the name in Iceland.